The 2009 Wisconsin Corn Crop High Moisture Corn, Aerobic Stability, Feed Additives and Mycotoxins Common Questions

Record low growing degree days and suboptimal growing conditions for corn in 2009 significantly delayed corn dry down and harvest in much of Wisconsin. As a result, near optimal environmental conditions (frost before full maturity) were present in the fall of 2009 for field mold growth. Field molds indentified on corn in the fall of 2009 by the University of Wisconsin Department of Plant Pathology include Cladosporium, Diplodia, Gibberella zeae, Fusarium sp, Nigrospora oryzae, and Penicillium oxalicum. Of greatest concern is the growth of Gibberella zeae and Fusarium sp of mold as these species are known to produce multiple mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (DON or vomitoxin), zearalenone, T-2 toxin and fumonisin. Fusarium sp of field molds may also produce numerous other mycotoxins. Growing conditions in 2009 did not appear to favor the growth of Penicillium sp, or Aspergillus sp. which are known to produce the mycotoxins ochratoxin A, PR-toxin, patulin and aflatoxin, respectively. However, because of the severity of these molds and their mycotoxins the potential for their growth and mycotoxin production should not be overlooked.